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FIREWORKS
The flying display over Cowes enthralled thousands who gathered for the traditional fireworks to wind up Skandia Cowes Week. >>>more
Thursday, August 28, 2008
PROUD HISTORY

Cowes Week is one of the UK’s longest running and most successful sporting events and is a key highlight of the British sporting summer. It has been held in early August every year since 1826, except during the two world wars.

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Skandia Cowes Week contributes around £60 million to the Isle of Wight economy, according to the Southern Tourist Board.

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Courses for racing are designed each day taking into account the weather forecast, tidal streams, and speed of each class of boat

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DAY EIGHT
It's been another fantastic Skandia Cowes Week and for the first time in10 years not a single race was lost, to either too much or too little wind, all classes had all eight races. >>>more

THE Cowes Week regatta attracts more than 1,000 boats in up to 40 different handicap, one-design and multihull classes racing every day for eight days. It is this complete mixture of classic and ultra-modern designs that gives the regatta its uniqueness. Around 8,500 competitors now participate, ranging from Olympic and world class yachtsmen to weekend sailors. Over 100,000 visitors to Cowes were in the town during the week.

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Skandia Cowes Week Banner image: onEdition
Photo: Michael Ford
ON THE COWES WATERFRONT

DAY TWO
Yachtsmen from across the world are drawn to the Solent for the testing conditions and the second day of Skandia Cowes Week proved more challenging than most >>> more
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© Royal Southampton Yacht Club 2008
SKANDIA COWES WEEK WAS GREAT
KATIE SHOWS HER SKILL
Raymarine/YJA Young Sailor of the Year, Katie Miller is at Cowes this week, and just back from her victory in the bluQube is demonstating her prowess in the Solent. >>>more
RAN WINS QUEEN'S CUP
A 52ft yacht from Hamble, RAN, entered by a Swedish IT entrepreur, put up a consistent performance to win the RSYC's Queen's Cup. >>> more
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DAY ONE
The Extreme 40s, racing in the iShares Cup off the beach at Lepe produced some blistering speeds, but a squall put paid to two masts and three boats capsized. >>>more
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DAY THREE
In the TP52 class crews reported sustained runs in excess of 22 knots as a consistent Force 5 south westerly pushed boats to their limits. >>>more

DAY FOUR
The big boats ruled the waves at Cowes as the second Artemis Challenge gave Pindar and Bryan Thompson a fairytale ending in a seven boat fleet. >>>more

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DAY FIVE
The picture across the Solent was one of upright masts and idle sails as the fleet in Skandia Cowes Week battled on day five with gaping holes in the wind and big ripping tides. >>>more

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DAY SIX
It was Liz Earle Ladies Day at Cowes, celebrating the number of women competing in sailing, and sparkling seas and clear skies provided champagne sailing conditions. >>>more

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END OF AN ERA
AFTER a very successful 14-year tenure, 2008 is Skandia's last year as title sponsor of Cowes Week, and so far organisers are tight lipped about who will succeed Skandia next year. >>> more

THE QUEEN'S CUP
The Royal Southampton is part of a triumvirate which organises the first three days' racing and by tradition runs the first day's racing at the regatta and awards the coveted Queen's Cup. >>> more
COCKTAILS AT THE SQUADRON
One of the privileges for members of the RSYC is an exclusive cocktail party on the eve of the regatta on the lawns of the Royal Yacht Squadron, overlooking Cowes harbour. >>> more
FEEL GOOD FACTOR
Cowes Week's family of sponsors play an important role in the continual development of the regatta and their activities all help to enhance the Skandia Cowes Week experience >>> more

 

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DAY SEVEN
At the start of the day, 17 of the 37 classes had already been decided and six boats out of the 2008 entry of 976 had maintained their remarkable unbeaten records. >>>more
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